Politicians reveal their hand
Hamilton’s mayoral race is set to feature a showdown between incumbent Paula Southgate and her number two.
Deputy mayor Geoff Taylor has confirmed he’s ‘‘highly likely’’ to contest the Hamilton mayoralty later this year.
His decision is contingent on getting enough funds to run a strong campaign. Taylor has also committed to standing in Hamilton West again.
‘‘I’ve spent $70k personally in the last two elections and this time around I’m seeking some support,’’ Taylor told Stuff.
Southgate will seek a second term as mayor after defeating her predecessor Andrew King in 2019. If successful, she’ll become only the second person to win a consecutive term as Hamilton mayor in the past two decades.
Taylor informed Southgate of his mayoral ambitions in December and is keen to introduce a different style of leadership to city hall.
‘‘I think at the moment the council is lacking urgency. We talk too much, expensive talkfests, plans and strategies. My track record is getting things done,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘Two hours free car parking against enormous opposition on the council, a new central city jetty, some really solid work turning the central city around to face the river.’’
Southgate is proud of the way council has navigated Covid-19 as well as a ‘‘slam down of change’’ being imposed on councils by the Government.
‘‘Creating a stable and productive council would be, overall, what I’m most proud of,’’ she said.
‘‘The way our council has navigated these turbulent waters of Covid and change is what I’m really pleased about.’’
Among the council’s crop of first-term councillors – Sarah Thomson, Mark Donovan, Maxine van Oosten, and Kesh Naidoo-Rauf – all have confirmed plans to stand again at this year’s election.
Donovan joined the council in August, 2021 after winning a byelection in Hamilton East. The by-election followed the death of councillor and former Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth.
Donovan said his first seven months on council has been akin to ‘‘dipping my toe in the water’’.
If re-elected, his focus will be on initiatives aimed at promoting the city’s economic prosperity.
Van Oosten lists her successful advocacy for the introduction of Māori wards and the STV voting system as highlights this term. She is keen to continue advocating for the provision of inclusionary zoning in new developments. Inclusionary zoning is a planning approach where developers are compelled to deliver a certain proportion of a development as affordable housing.
Naidoo-Rauf said her first
‘‘Creating a stable and productive council would be, overall, what I’m most proud of. ’’
Paula Southgate Mayor of Hamilton
term on council has given her a strong grounding. Her proudest moment was the creation of the council’s first ever welcoming plan designed to make Hamilton an inclusive city for new residents.
Thomson lists the decision to commit funds to restoring and protecting Hamilton’s gullies, and the funding of business cases for cycling initiatives as the highlights of her first term. Like Naidoo-Rauf and van Oosten, Thomson is keen to see projects started this term continue over the next three years.
Councillor Ryan Hamilton is leaning towards standing again, saying he’s found his niche on council and wants to help lead economic development initiatives next term. Hamilton chairs the council’s district plan committee and said he and other elected members have not rolled over in the face of the Government’s reform agenda.
‘‘We’re fighting, we’re putting a bespoke Hamilton lens on things, and I’m really proud of that,’’ Hamilton said.
Councillor Ewan Wilson will attempt to win a sixth term on council but has ruled out having another tilt at the mayoralty after unsuccessfully contesting it twice before. His successful advocacy for the reintroduction of the city’s endowment fund was amajor positive, he said.
‘‘We’ve now got the endowment fund up and running, $50 million in total of cash and building assets, and we’re now proactively enabling those funds to do what they should have always done which is enabling and facilitating development,’’ Wilson said.
He also praised Southgate’s leadership.
‘‘This has to be the most collegial, well-structured term I’ve ever had on council and credit has to go to Mayor Paula. She has created an environment where that collegial approach, with portfolios, has enabled individual councillors to work together.’’
Councillors Rob Pascoe, Martin Gallagher, Dave Macpherson and Mark Bunting are yet to commit to standing again.
At age 71, Pascoe wants to be sure he can fully commit to council for another three years.
Macpherson and Gallagher will make their minds up during the winter months, while Bunting said his long-term aspirations lie beyond being a councillor.
‘‘I definitely want to move up the ranks eventually, and I just have to pick my timing.
‘‘It’s certainly not signifying that I’m running for mayor or anything, but I don’t want to be a councillor for many, many terms.’’
Councillor Angela O’Leary will seek a sixth term in the west ward but will not stand again for the mayoralty.
O’Leary, who chairs the council’s infrastructure operations committee, said the city has made strong progress with its capital works programme despite the challenges of Covid.
‘‘My reason for standing for the mayoralty [in 2019] was I didn’t like the direction the city was going, and I didn’t like the leadership and didn’t agree with it. That’s changed this term,’’ she said.